Means for cooling cylinder walls of compressors



June 6 1950 L. HANSON 2,510,887

MEANS FOR cooLING CYLINDER WALLS 0F COMPRESSORS Filed Sept. 10, 1946 atented. June ti, 195i]? 7 MEANS FOR COOLING CYLINDER WALLS OF COMPRESSORS Lars Hanson, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor to Carrier Corporation, Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application September 10,- 1946, Serial No. 695,977

9 Claims. (Cl. 62-115) This invention relates to means for cooling the walls of a device which generates heat during normal use such as for example compressors of the reciprocating, rotary or centrifugal types or the motor of a hermetic motor-compressor unit. The invention is described with particular reference to refrigeration apparatus such as a. reciprocating compressor although it will be understcod the cooling means ar not limited to such use.

The chief object of the present invention is to provide means for cooling the walls of a device which generates heat during normal use.

An object of the invention is to provide a device for efllclently and economically circulating refrigerant in heat exchange relation with the walls of a device to cool the same.

A further object is to provide a device for efflciently and economically circulating refrigerant in heat exchange relation with the walls of a, device to cool the same in which the amount of refrigerant circulated is automatically adjusted in accordance with the load upon the device to be cooled.

A still further object is to provide a compressor including improved means for cooling the walls thereof.

A still further object is to provide a hermetic motor-compressor unit including means for cooling the walls of the motor.

A still further object is to provide a method of cooling the walls of a device which generates heat in normal use. Other objects of my invention will be readily perceived from the following description.

This invention relates to a device which gencrates heat during normal use and includes means for cooling the walls thereof, for example, 9, reciprocating compressor which includes means for cooling the cylinder and/or cylinder head of the compressor. Cooling jackets are provided about the cylinder and'the cylinder head. Liquid refrigerant from a condenser is supplied to the jacket surrounding the cylinder in heat exchange relation with the cylinder wall and is then supplied to the jacket surrounding the cylinder head in heat exchange relation with the wall thereof. An injector device is disposed in the discharge line connecting the compressor and the condenser. The injector device is connected to the cooling jacket surrounding the cylinder head. Passage of compressed refrigerant through the discharge line induces refrigerant from the cooling jacket to enter the discharge line and to return to the condenser. In the condenser it is cooled to liquid condition, if necessary, and is again supplied to the cooling jacket surrounding the cylinder.

The attached drawing illustrates diagrammatically a preferred embodiment of my invention.

The invention is described with particular reference to refrigeration apparatus such as a reciprocating compressor. Referring to the drawing there is shown a compressor 2 including 9. cylinder 3, a cylinder head 4, and a valve plate 5 disposed between cylinder 3 and cylinder head 4. Cylinder head 4 and valve plate 5 are secured to cylinder 3 by fastening means 6. A piston 1 is disposed in cylinder 3 and is adapted to be actuated by means of a crank 8 connected to suitable actuating mechanism! as is well known in the art.

A cooling jacket to surrounds the wall of cylinder 3. A second cooling jacket ll surrounds the cylinder head 4. It will be understood such jackets may be formed within the walls of cylinder 3 and cylinder head 4. or may comprise separate members connected to the exterior walls thereof. Jacket I0 is provided with an inlet l2 and an outlet I3. Jacket H is provided with an inlet H and an outlet I5. A line It connects outlet l3 with inlet it.

There is shown diagrammatically at H the condenser of the refrigeration system. Condensed liquid refrigerant is shown at It in the bottom of condenser IT. The refrigerant may be condensed by passage of the hot gaseous refrigerant from compressor 2 through condenser I! in heat exchange relation with air or cold water. The discharge line connecting the compressor 2 and the condenser I1 is shown at IS. A line 20 connects condenser I1 with inlet I2 of jacket ill for the passage of liquid refrigerant into jacket to. It will be understood condenser l1 preferably is disposed in such position that liquid refrigerant may drain therefrom into jacket It.

An injector device 2i is provided in discharge line is and is adapted to induce refrigerant from cooling jacket II to enter the discharge line l9 through line 22 running from the injector device 2| to outlet iii of jacket H.

Injector device 2i preferabl comprises a venturi 23 in discharge line IS, the line l9 being enlarged or increased in area as shown at 24 adjacent portion 23 to provide a recovery venturi. Line 22 has its end or nozzle 25 disposed at the throat of the venturi 23 of discharge line IS. The induction effect of compressed refrigerant from compressor 2 passing through the venturi induces refrigerant from jacket H to enter discharge llne l9.

In the method of operation, liquid refrigerant is supplied through line 20 to jacket III. The liquid refrigerant circulates through jacket I!) in heat exchange relation with the wall of the cylinder and then passes through line I6 to jacket II. The refrigerant circulates through jacket H in heat exchange relation with the wall of the cylinder head and then passes through line 22 to discharge line I9 being induced into line I9 by injector device 2|. Injector device 2| serves to restrict passage of compressed refrigerant from compressor 2 to condenser l'l thereby increasing its velocity and inducin refrigerant from jacket II to enter the discharge line. Refrigerant is returned through discharge line H to condenser I! where it is cooled and passes to the bottom of the condenser. Liquid refrigerant is again drawn from the bottom of condenser l1 and supplied to jacket In.

In the device described, the quantity of refrigerant circulated through the cooling jackets l and H is dependent upon the load upon the compressor. As the work required of the compressor decreases, less cooling is required and accordingly the amount of liquid refrigerant circulated through jackets I0 and II may be reduced. As the load on the compressor is reduced, the velocity of the refrigerant in line I9 is automatically reduced and the quantity of refrigerant induced into line l9 by injector device 2| is correspondingly reduced. The quantity of cooling fluid flowing through the cooling jackets is automatically adjusted to satisfy the demand for cooling resulting from an increase or decrease in the load upon the compressor.

My invention provides a simple and economical method of continuously cooling the cylinders and/or cylinder heads of reciprocating compressors. The apparatus so provided is simple and inexpensive. The cooling device of my invention obviates any possibility of water leakage into the refrigeration system since it eliminates the use of water as a cooling medium for the compressor cylinder. My invention permits the use of liquid refrigerant for cooling the compressor without thermodynamic loss in the compressor, involving merely a minor amount of additional water cooling or air cooling in the condenser. In addition, a more efficient and simple piping arrangement is provided which reduces the cost of the cooling device.

While I have described my invention with particular reference to its use in cooling the cylinder and/or cylinder head of reciprocatin compressors, it will be understood that the cooling device so provided may be used for other purposes and in other applications; for example, the invention may be applied to rotary or centrifugal compressors or to a hermetic motor compressor unit for cooling the motor of the unit. In such case liquid refrigerant may be circulated through a motor jacket in the manner described above.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood my invention is not limited thereto since it may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a compressor to :be cooled, a cooling jacket surrounding at least a portion of the compressor, said jacket having an inlet for the passage of liquid refrigerant into the jacket and an outlet for the passage of refrigerant from the jacket, a condenser connected to the inlet adapted to supply liquid refrigerant to the jacket,

a discharge line connecting the compressor and the condenser, and injector means in said discharge line for withdrawing refrigerant from the jacket and returning it to the condenser.

2. In a compressor, the combination of a cylinder, a cooling jacket surrounding the cylinder, means for passing liquid refrigerant to the cooling jacket, and an injector in a discharge line connecting the compressor with a condenser for withdrawing refrigerant from the j cket.

3. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a compressor having a cylinder, a cooling jacket surrounding the cylinder, said jacket having an inlet for the passage of liquid refrigerant into the jacket and an outlet for the passage of refrigerant from the jacket, 9, condenser connected to the inlet adapted to supply liquid refrigerant to the jacket, a discharge line connecting the compressor and the condenser through which compressed refrigerant passes to the condenser, and injector means in said line for withdrawing the refrigerant from the jacket and returning it to the condenser.

4. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a compressor having a cylinder, a cooling jacket surrounding the cylinder, said jacket having an inlet for the passage of liquid refrigerant into the jacket and an outlet for the passage of refrigerant from the jacket, a condenser connected to the inlet adapted to supply liquid refrigerant to the jacket, a discharge line connecting the compressor and the condenser through which compressed refrigerant passes from the compressor to the condenser, a portion of the discharge line being constricted in area to increase the pressure of compressed refrigerant therein, and means connecting the jacket with the constricted portion of the discharge line, passage of compressed refrigerant through the discharge line inducing refrigerant from the jacket to enter the discharge line and to return to the condenser thereby maintaining a flow of refrigerant through the jacket in accordance with the load upon the compressor.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which a portion of the discharge line adjacent the constricted portion is increased in area to provide a recovery venturi.

6. In a compressor, the combination of a cylinder head, a cooling jacket surrounding the cylinder head, means for supplying liquid refrigerant to the cylinder head, and an injector in a discharge line through which compressed refrigerant passes from the compressor to the condenser for withdrawing refrigerant from the jacket.

7. In a compressor, the combination of a cylinder, a cooling jacket surrounding the cylinder, means for supplying liquid refrigerant to the jacket, a cylinder head, a second cooling jacket surrounding the cylinder head, means connecting the cooling jackets for passage of refrigerant from the first jacket to the second jacket, and injector means in a discharge line through which compressed refrigerant passes from the compressor to the condenser for withdrawing refrigerant from the second jacket.

8. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a compressor having a cylinder and a cylinder head, a cooling jacket surrounding the cylinder, a second cooling jacket surrounding the cylinder head, a line connecting the first jacket with the second jacket, a condenser connected to the first jacket adapted to supply liquid refrigerant thereto, a discharge line connecting the compressor and the condenser, and injector means in said discharge line connected to said second Jacket adapted to withdraw refrigerant therefrom and to return the withdrawn refrigerant to the condenser thereby maintaining circulation of refrigerant through the jackets and the condenser.

9. In a method of cooling the cylinder wall of a compressor, the steps which comprise supplying liquid refrigerant from a condenser to a cooling jacket surrounding the cylinder, circulating liquid refrigerant through the cooling jacket in heat exchange relation with the cylinder, inducing the refrigerant to enter the compressor discharge line, returning the refrigerant to the condenser, cooling the refrigerant, again supplying liquid refrigerant to the cooling jacket, and automatically adjusting the quantity of refrigerant supplied to the cooling jacket in accordance with the load upon the compressor.

LARS HANSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,360,969 Newcombe Oct. 24, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS w Number Country Date 139,714 Germany Dec. 10, 1934 322,773 France Feb. 12, 1903 

